VMT MATCH REPORT: Injury Woes Hit Phoenix against Taipans

A late out for the Phoenix to begin the game, Craig Moller with a virus, was replaced by Matt Kenyon in the starting five.

The start of the game saw both sides defending well, with Taipans' first score coming nearly two minutes in.

It was neck and neck throughout the first half, including a 10-1 run for Phoenix to start the second quarter before the Taipans young squad fought back.

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Unfortunately, the Phoenix were without superstar Tyler Cook who suffered a poke to the eye and missed the entire second half.

The Taipan's Next Star, Bobi Klintman, was huge for his side with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Phoenix found a spark at the start of the fourth before Cairns controlled the rest of the fourth and took the game by seven points.

Phoenix now travel to Wollongong to bounce back from tonight's loss against the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday at 5:30pm AEDT.

Payback Dunk for Cook

The first quarter saw Cook be postered by Sam Waardenburg before Cook going payback in the second giving Waardenburg a taste of his own medicine.

Browne Spark

It looked like Phoenix was down and out…enter #14 Gary Browne. With clutch threes' at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, he created a spark for the Phoenix to remain in the game early in the fourth.

Captain Courageous

With a couple of men down, Creek did all he could to lead from the front for his side. He ended the night with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Full Time Stats

Creek: 20p/8r/1stl
Browne: 13p/2r/4a/1stl
Cummings: 11p/6r/2a/1stl
Ayre: 11p
Te Rangi: 9p/4r
Kenyon: 5p/2r/2stls
Cook: 5p/4r/1stl
Foxwell: 4p/1r/3stls
Rissetto: 2p/1r
Vague: 3r/1blk